In September 2015, the British Columbia government took back a water license it had granted to Nexen Inc in 2012 for shale gas fracking in the northeast of the province. The BC Environmental Appeal Board ruled that not only was the BC government's original licensing decision based on fundamentally flawed science, but that it also "acted in bad faith when it did not properly consult with the Fort Nelson First Nation, breaching a constitutional duty to consider potential adverse effects of the water licence."

What can the freshwater community learn from this case? Are we likely to see other First Nation governments challenging water licenses in the future? And how might a strong BC Water Sustainability Act impact future water licensing decisions?

Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at this historic decision and its implications for future challenges with James Tate & Nathan Hume of Ratcliff & Company, counsel for the Fort Nelson First Nation.

This webinar is part of the Canadian Freshwater Allliance's "Fresh Ideas" series which highlights success stories and innovative ideas in freshwater protection and advocacy across the country.

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The Canadian Freshwater Alliance (CFA) assists Canada’s diverse non-profit water community to secure healthy, thriving waters from coast to coast to coast. Founded on the notion that people and the environment have the right to healthy waters, the Alliance is working to unite, train and mobilize diverse water stewards big and small, near and far.